WHIT Whittier Energy Corp (MM)

Whittier Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:WHIT) announced today that the proposed merger with Sterling Energy plc was approved at the special meeting of stockholders held today in Houston, Texas. The merger is expected to close tomorrow, March 28, 2007. Whittier announced that, based upon the preliminary tally of shares voted, approximately 8.3 million shares, or more than 65 percent of the total shares outstanding as of the record date for the special meeting, were voted in favor of the merger. Of the shares voted, more than 98 percent were voted in favor of the merger. Approval of the merger required the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares outstanding as of the record date for the special meeting, February 20, 2007. As of the record date, Whittier had 12,723,132 shares of stock outstanding. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Whittier stockholders will receive $11.00 in cash for each share of Whittier Energy common stock. About Whittier Energy Corporation Whittier Energy Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Houston, Texas, with operations in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Whittier Energy also holds non-operated interests in fields located in the Gulf Coast, Oklahoma, Wyoming and California. To find out more about Whittier Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:WHIT), visit www.whittierenergy.com. About Sterling Energy plc Sterling is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company formed in October 2002 and listed on the Alternative Investment Market (�AIM�) of the London Stock Exchange. Sterling has built a portfolio of production assets in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore West Africa and has an active exploration program focused predominantly on Africa. Sterling has expanded its U.S. operations to included the onshore Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. In addition to production from Mauritania, Sterling has built a portfolio of African exploration interests including Madagascar, Gabon and Cameroon. Further information is available on its website at www.sterlingenergyuk.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes projections and other �forward-looking statements� within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Any such projections or statements reflect Whittier�s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given, however, that these events will occur or that such projections will be achieved and actual results could differ materially from those projected. A discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected is included in Whittier�s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.